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“The Succubus in a Red Dress” by Daniel Garcia is a very entertaining short novel about a woman who turns into a succubus. While we follow Delilah and her personal transformation and her adjustment to the new lifestyle there is also some complicated romance and the evil succubus Queen and her ‘society’.Written in a refreshing and often humorous style this is hugely enjoyable. Colourful characters, unexpected twists and a great pace made this a big pleasant surprise on my reading list.Highly recommended, not just to the many fans of the supernatural and paranormal.

Interview with the author:

Tell us a little about yourself as writer and a person.

My goals as a writer are to make others laugh and to surprise them. After reading my stories, I hope people say “I didn’t see that coming” or at least “that was different.” As for knowing something about me, I’m a fairly private person, so I love the idea of being enigmatic and cloaked in mystery. I probably need to get over that. One thing I will offer up is that I’m a bit of a clown in real life, too.

What made you become a writer?

Ideas kept popping into my head, and they wouldn’t go away until I jotted them down. I actually started off writing screenplays, but I didn’t feel in sync with the Hollywood process. Everyone wants to re-write you. It finally occurred to me that I should turn my stores into novels and go the independent publishing route, and I’m much happier with this process.

Have you always written?

No. Though I’ve always had an over-active imagination, I never thought of myself as a creative person, not until college, when I had an internship reading screenplays for a production company. After doing that for five years, I grew tired of critiquing others’ creativity, and couldn’t resist the idea of telling my own stories.

When did you decide to write paranormal humour?

When I started writing “The Succubus in a Red Dress.” I never plan things out, I just write what pops into my mind, whatever genre that may be.

Do you have a favourite genre?

I can see myself trying out different genres, but what I particularly enjoy about paranormal is that it allows one to take the world around us, and deal with it in a slightly heightened, fantastical fashion.

Tell us a little about the history of “Succubus”! How long did it take you to write and publish?

I had thought about “Succubus” for years, it was one of those ideas that lingered in the back of my mind. It all stemmed from the alley scene, after Delilah’s date with Ken, and also the vision of Chloe charging up in a red Ferrari to save her. I had a break over the holidays last year, and wrote the whole thing in 10 days. I spent another two months perfecting it, and published in a couple days.

What was the easiest about writing the book and what was the hardest?

“Succubus” leapt out of my mind almost fully formed, perhaps because I carried it around for so long. However, the hard part for me was that it’s a bit short. I kept wanted to expand the idea, but in my gut, I knew Delilah’s adventures would be more fully developed in the sequels. Yet, it was still a struggle for me to leave it the way it was.

Would you say there is a message in the book beyond the story?

For me, it’s all about empowerment. Though the succubus myth is an interesting one in certain ways, I wanted to subvert the idea of these women being evil or demons. I love the idea that maybe they could be heroes. I also enjoy that Delilah constantly rebels against what people assume she is or the labels they might try to slap on her. I love that she simply refuses to be what’s expected of her, and forces the people around her to re-examine what they believe.

Do you find it is well received and picked up by the reviewers?

I don’t think any reviewers know “Succubus” exists. I am happy that readers on Amazon and Goodreads have left some positive feedback.

What do you like most about your characters?

I love it when they say something that makes me laugh or do something that surprises me, which happens quite often.

Which one is your favourite?

Chloe and Benito were my favourite characters for the longest time, but Delilah eventually took the top spot. I find something endearing about the fact that she has superpowers, yet is shy and awkward. I also like the idea that the world conspires to make her a hero, when it seems like the last thing she should be.

Who would play the characters in a film?

Selena Gomez for Delilah, Armie Hammer for Ken, Becca Tobin from “Glee” for Chloe, Julianna Margulies for Ken’s mom, or maybe Sigourney Weaver. I would love to see the Succubus Queen played by Salma Hayek or Monica Belluci … maybe even Jennifer Lopez.

What are your next projects? Tell us about your other books.

My next project is the sequel to “Succubus.” It’s called “The Succubus and the Crown.” Delilah finds herself having to navigate the world of paranormal politics over the course of one very long night. I also have another book out called “The Meridian Gamble.” It’s about a woman who falls for a vampire, who realizes that they have known each other over her various past lives.

What is your life like?

Sleep, eat, write, dream of being able to write full-time. Rinse and repeat.

What do you do for pleasure and work when you are not writing?

Sleep is my favourite hobby. I play a bit of videogames, mostly ones that aren’t too challenging, like Animal Crossing, and sometimes World of Warcraft. I also watch some TV shows on the Internet or rent movies on ITunes, but mostly I write.

Who are your literary influences?

Though he’s not literary, I love Joss Whedon. I enjoy his snarky sense of humour, and the balance of comedy and drama he creates. He strikes a certain chord of silliness that still allows you to get caught up in the drama of his stories. If they did another season of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” I would be ecstatic. Or maybe he could just turn “The Succubus in a Red Dress” into a series. Hmmm …

What are your favourite books/ films/ albums?

Favourite book; “The Life and Loves of a She-Devil.” Favourite films; “Pitch Perfect” and “Enchanted.”

What are your views on independent publishing?

Indie-Publishing is a powerful medium. It’s amazing to be able to get your book in front of millions of people without having to hear “No” from agents, managers, publishing houses. I can’t even imagine wanting to sign a publishing deal if one came my way, because of the freedom self-publishing allows.

What would your friends tell us if we asked for your best and your oddest qualities?

My friend’s might say my best quality is my wry sense of humour. My oddest would be that I sometimes tell people things before they happen. I have a pretty strong intuition.

What are your favourite animal/colour/ outdoor activity?

I love cats, but I’m horribly allergic to them. Favourite colour is blue, outdoor activity – walking to wherever I have to go.

What would you take to a remote island?

A laptop with cellular connection.

Who would you like to invite for dinner and why?

Chelsea Handler, the talk show host. I think she’s hysterical, though I would be crushed if we didn’t wind up becoming BFFs.

What are you writing at the moment and where would we find out about your next projects?

I’m writing the sequel to “The Succubus in a Red Dress,” which I’m hoping to finish by January 1st. That will make my New Year very happy. The best way to find out about my projects is to buy a copy of Succubus and join my mailing list. I use it exclusively to announce a new book, so those on the list get to hear first.

written by CBook5901
Christoph Fischer was born in Germany in 1970 as the son of a Sudeten-German father and a Bavarian mother. ‘The Luck of The Weissensteiners’ is his first published work. He has written several other novels which are in the later stages of editing and finalisation.

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